OTIRA TUNNEL TROUBLE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 26, 1 February 1911, Page 2

OTIRA TUNNEL TROUBLE.

RED TIES AND RIBBONS. AN OPEN-AIR MEETING. [BY TSLEGEAPH — PEESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, 31st January. The, fact that work on the Arthur's Pass' tunnel at Otira is at a- standstill was prominently brought before coach passengers, the arrival of the coach being met by a small crowd of young men, apparently tunnel workers, " who were sporting red ties and ribbons, one youth waving a flaming pennant. The union has decided to hand over tho dispute to the New Zealand Federation ot Labour, and Mr. Semple, organiser thereof, arrives at Otira to-mor-row. The men's grievances, which do not at present enter into the dispute, bear a speaking resemblance to those investigated by Mr. P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner. The men held an open-air meeting this evening. The meeting was fairly orderly, but there were numerous interruptions from some. The chairman (Mr. W. Murphy) claimed that the union must stand for the recognition of its official. Mr. Fry, a member of the union's executive, stated the case fully, and said that though Mr. Armstrong^ was not employed by Mr. M'Lean, he was employed by the union to transact its business. There was no intention to cause trouble, and if Mr. M'Lean had heard the deputation the matters in dispute would probably have been settled 111 a few hours. The unionists had not intended to interfere with any man who preferred to return to work, nor with tiio contractors' property. They intended to go about their business in a sane and sensible manner. The Socialistic tone of the speaker's further remarks on the present social and economic conditions was resented by some in the audience. The meeting was adjourned shortly after, the unionists being invited to attend a private meeting. No definite news has been received as to the attitude of the men at the Bealey end of the tunnel, •but it is confidently expected by the unionists 1 that they will follow the example of the Otira men. Mr. Armstrong went to Bealey to-day, and there was to be a meeting of the men tnere this evening. The present feeling at Otira is that the struggle will be a keen one, but the unpreparedness of the men for a long-continued conflict is one point against it being a lengthy one.